And Boyle says coaching counterpart Ben Howland has a team very capable of winning the conference this season.

"Our guys are dialed in, there's no question," Boyle said. "We always talk about playing hard, playing smart and playing together. The playing hard part, I don't think I'll have to worry about for this game.

"We've been playing together. We have an unselfish group that wants to win. It's the playing smart part that we have to work on."

After Thursday's 66-60 victory over USC, Boyle said he should have majored in psychology.

The young Buffs (11-4, 1-2), who blew leads at Arizona (17 points) and Arizona State (13 points) last week, were outscored by the Trojans 17-10 in the first eight minutes and 34-25 in the second half.

In three Pac-12 games, CU has 34 assists and 34 turnovers. The Buffs have also been out-rebounded by an average of 6.4 board and made only 37 of 63 (58.7 percent) free throws in conference play.

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"We can't have individuals worrying about their shots or messing up. If someone messes up, they put their head down, and we can't have that," CU senior Sabatino Chen said after scoring 10 points and making four steals against USC. "As a team, we have to stay mentally focused for a full 40 minutes."

The Bruins (13-3, 3-0) arrive with an eight-game winning streak. They can play fast (defeated Missouri 97-94 in overtime on Dec. 28) or grind out an ugly win (defeated Utah 57-53 on Thursday).

UCLA uber freshman Shabazz Muhammad is averaging 18.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Classmates Jordan Adams (16.3 ppg) and Kyle Anderson (9.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg) are also playing at a high level.

Junior forward Travis Wear (11.3 ppg) is back. Redshirt senior Larry Drew II is averaging 8.3 assists and led the Bruins to the win in Salt lake City with 12 points, including a layup with nine seconds left to ice the game.

"I think we just have to do what we do defensively for 40 minutes," CU center Shane Harris-Tunks said. "We've been trying to put a full 40 minutes together for a while now. That's really what we have to focus on. It's not really about them, it's about us."

UCLA seems to have discovered great chemistry since Joshua Smith and Tyler Lamb transferred out of the program.

"Everybody saw those two kids leave within a week of each other and people were wondering, 'What is going on?'" Boyle said. "But you've seen how their team has responded since that time. It has definitely been addition by subtraction"

The Bruins lead the Pac-12 in scoring (78.5 ppg), field goal percentage (.475) assists (17.5 apg) and turnover margin (+2.5).

"I think we're good getting up and down, and we've had fantastic decision making from our point guards, which has been very helpful," Howland said this week.

Boyle said the CU game plan includes limiting the Bruins' transition baskets, second-chance points and playing an 'A' game on defense.

A capacity crowd is expected at the Coors Events Center to watch the Buffs play UCLA in Boulder for the first time since Dec. 7, 1962.

BROADCAST: Television on the Pac-12 Network with JB Long (play-by-play) and Ernie Kent (analyst). Radio on KKZN (AM 760) with Mark Johnson (play-by-play) and Chad Brown (analyst). Follow on Twitter: @RyanThorburn.

CU STORYLINES: The Buffs defeated USC 66-60 on Thursday for their first conference win of the season. ... Andre Roberson did not start after showing up late for a team function, but the 6-7 junior came off the bench to score 11 points and grab eight rebounds. ... The Buffs scored 21 points off of 23 turnovers by the Trojans. However, CU missed 12 free throws and was out-rebounded 39-30. ... The Buffs do not play USC or UCLA in Los Angeles this season. ... CU drew 10,344 for USC and has eclipsed the 10,000 mark in six of seven home games. A capacity crowd is expected today.

UCLA STORYLINES: The Bruins have won eight consecutive games, including a 57-53 victory at Utah on Thursday. ... Larry Drew II scored 12 points, including a layup with nine seconds left, to secure the win. ... This is the Bruins' longest winning streak since the team won 10 consecutive games during the 2008-09 season. ... UCLA leads the Pac-12 in scoring (78.5 ppg), field goal percentage (.475) assists (17.5 apg) and turnover margin (+2.5).

KEY STAT: The Buffs are 7-0 at home this season and 39-4 at the Coors Events Center under Tad Boyle.

COACHES: Boyle is 59-30 in his third season at CU. Ben Howland is 221-100 in his 10th season at UCLA.

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